Click the Link below to find out Steve's top priorities for 2008..

Public Safety

83% voter approval of SAFCA capital assessment to match $1.5 billion in state/fed funds for Folsom Dam spillway and related modifications to achieve 200-year flood protection.Achieved full staffing for the Police Department for the first time in years.City Manager appointed new Police Chief Rick Braziel and Fire Chief Ray Jones.Conducted “Operation Smoke Detector” in the Ben Ali Neighborhood, distributing 180 free smoke detectors to ensure every home is equipped with a detector.

Parks/Sustainability

Adopted City Sustainability Master Plan with specific plans to meet City’s goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction.Approved application for $1.5 million in Prop 40 River Parkways Grant funds to develop Two Rivers Parkway Trail Phase II from Highway 160 to Sutter’s Landing Park.Authorized purchase of land at 19th and R for future park.Completed new entry plaza and children’s play features including water play misters, playground and day camp area for summer kids’ activities at Muir Park at 15th and C.Completed painting and restoration of Senior Center at Marshall Park at 28th & J.Completed playground and disc golf course at Kenwood Mackey Park in Hagginwood.Completed fully accessible group picnic area and rest stop at University Park, an important access point to the American River Parkway.Adopted a Solar City partnership with DOE.As SMAQMD Board member, approved a two-stage plan to ban wood burning on high pollution days, while maintaining partial exemption for certified clean-burning units.Adopted ordinance allowing residents to grow gardens in their front yards.Expanded City’s volunteer containerized green waste program to Swanston Estates, Campus Commons, Sierra Oaks, River Park and McKinley Park neighborhoods to reduce risk of pesticides draining into the river and leaves clogging storm drains.

Transportation/Streets

Finalized City purchase of Sacramento Valley Station and made immediate improvements to train station parking.Obtained $150,000 for Elvas Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project (curb, gutter and sidewalk on east side of Elvas from J to 62nd across from St. Francis and National Guard).Completed restriping of 19th Street (H to Broadway) and 21st Street (I to W Street) from three lanes to two lanes with bicycle lanes.Adopted Central City Two-Way Conversion Plan with funding to construct two-way street conversions on 3rd Street (I to J), J Street (30th to Alhambra), and 9th and 10th Streets (E to I); then if funding is available, L Street (21st-29th), N Street (21st-28th), P Street (21st-Alhambra) and Q Street (21st-29th); and lowest priority, L, N, P, and Q Streets (16th-21st).Contracted with State of California to permit City to operate State East End Parking Garage at 17th and L, allowing public use on evenings/weekends.Installed 100 solar powered Pay & Display stations Midtown, making parking easier and more convenient.

Housing and Development

Completed or started construction on hundreds of new mixed-use/loft units with ground floor retail, including at 18th & L, 13th and C, 17th and D, 65th Street Transit Village, etc.Adopted landmark land use/financing plan for Downtown Railyards to build housing for over 10,000 people, and several million square feet of retail, restaurants, cafes and entertainment over the next 10-15 years, including the rehab of the historic Rail Shops district buildings.Approved Township 9, a 65-acre project between Richards Blvd. and the American River that will convert the former cannery site into a mixed-use village with 2,350 residential units, 840,000 SF office, 146,000 SF retail, and 3-acre park along river at north end of 7th Street.Partnered with Midtown Business Association to adopt a Property Owner and Business Improvement District (PBID) in Midtown.Began construction on new Citizens Hotel at the historic 926 J Building and started rehab of historic buildings with new restaurants, shops and theater at 10th and K.Adopted major reforms to streamlining City’s permitting process.Completed construction of 150-unit East End Lofts and retail shops at 65th and Folsom and Adopted citywide program for rental housing inspections.

Arts and Culture

Adopted financing plan and started construction of the Crocker Art Museum expansion, leveraging over $50 million in privately raised funds.Adopted financing plan and began demo of new performing arts and rehearsal studio for the ballet, opera, and theaters, at 14th and H.Finalized plans for Capital Unity Center at 16th & N.Put on the 17th Annual Pops in the Park summer concert series and 3rd Annual Screen on the Green summer outdoor movie series in District 3 parks.Sponsored the 6th Annual French Film Festival and the 9th Annual Jewish Film Festival at the Crest Theater.CRCIP program also funds two new libraries in south area, several new community centers and animal hospital at Zoo.

Neighborhood/Historic Preservation/Planning

Council required that first building under construction as part of Mercy Heart Center will be Sacred Heart Parish Elementary School.Council set firm boundary limits for future development of the Mercy campus, and required Mercy to develop shaded pedestrian streetscapes throughout the campus, including a quarter-acre public plaza on the east side of 39th Street, and three other plaza areas; build replacement housing on H Street; operate shuttle service to both the 29th and 39th Street light rail stations; set aside $200,000 for a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program; prohibit noisy outdoor construction on Sundays/holidays, limit lane closures for underground work; require all lay-down and construction parking to be on site; and meet or exceed green building standards.Began restoration work, lighting and landscaping at Memorial Auditorium.Adopted Alternative Development Standards for single family and two family residential structures in East Sac and Hagginwood/Ben Ali.Finalized $1 million plan for streetlight infrastructure improvements in Ben Ali neighborhood.Worked with neighborhood on a neighborhood compatible design and began construction on the new Rite Aid at 22nd & F Streets.Worked with developer and Rite Aid on a neighborhood compatible design for the new Rite Aid at 48th & J Streets which also includes a library book drop.Elks Building Restoration at 11th and J.

Budget/Finance/Customer Services

Adopted balanced budget with no new taxes.Implemented Community Reinvestment Capital Improvement Bond Program to invest over $200 million in capital projects, including 2 new libraries, community centers, parks, streetscape and waterfront projects Downtown and throughout the City.Helped fund Hunger Commission’s summer free lunch program for needy children at 100 sites.

Library/Schools/Education

Approved the Sacramento Public Library Master Plan, including plans to rehab McKinley Park/Clunie library and build new library in partnership with Sac State at 65th & Folsom.Worked with community and school districts to improve neighborhood schools and improve relations between schools and neighborhoods.Supported formation of new K-12 school district in North Sac, which passed by voters in November 2007, merging Grant High School District with several elementary districts.

Vice Mayor/Council Member, 3rd District of Sacramento

-Steve Cohn

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